Signal distribution system



OCI- 16, 1956 P; M. G. TOULON SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Filed DeC. 26, 1950 PIERRE MARI'E GABRIEL TOULON 5I 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 nlv H Ta# M a u n a n UN T PN N w UH OC m T T I GT GH GH T GW GW GW Gl Gl G H G n GT mw Nw2 Nw fNGwa Nws Nw mw mwa mws NUO mw Nwz 1 .n l 3 l l l 6 T 7 T l T ICI T H lCl Mm Am Mm Mm Mm Mm Am Am Am Mm AmV Mm GC GC GC GG GC GC GC GC GC GC GC GC I I 8 7 E 2 ML L L a l u w w L :DIESE E N. I I MNEN N N 1 E SN N I N NLA A A C I I mm mMUH w HI E f WH |cPc u. lc w\\ I O k ET 3EH E D. ,AJ AGU @w RC RC Aw H OR om RR II lIIII II TC TC ma w 9 2 S S 8 3- 8 S 9 Hw n 2 4/ I l I' s f/ l 8 7 Q 6 H I 7 ...n m 6 5 4 s 9 8 5 s 7 M 4 3 6 2 a s 3 TTTTT I mi-- GE 1 M. CM NSN 2 u Kil@ 7 2 SU fAUP )WJ I l I I l I I l l III n. s

BY gn/M ATTORNEY United States Patent i SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Pierre M. G. Toulon, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Moore and Heli, Washington, D. C., a partnership Application December 26, 1950, Serial No. 202,605

Claims. (Cl. Z50-27) The present invention relates generally to systems of signal distribution, and more particularly to improved systems for distributing successive pulses arriving over a single input channel, among a plurality of independent output channels.

It is well known, in systems for distributing successive pulses arriving over a single input channel among a plurality of independent output channels, to eifect the distribution in a plurality of steps, or by means of a plurality of cascaded distributors. In such case the pulses arriving over the input channel are distributed among a small number of intermediate channels, by means of a first distributor. The pulses in each of the intermediate channels are then distributed among a relatively large number of independent output channels by a further distributor.

The diiculty with systems of the character described, as well as with the more direct systems in which only a single step of distribution is employed, when an extremely large number of output channels must be supplied with pulses, resides in the complexity of the system required for synchronizing and controlling the distribution of pulses. The latter function may be accomplished, in practice, by means of gating pulses, which occur in each of the output channels at the instant when a pulse is to be passed therethrough. The required gating pulse generator is then extremely complex and expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for pulse distribution from a single input channel among a large number of independent output channels, wherein a reduced number of gating pulses may be employed, by enabling utilization of each gating pulse to gate simultaneously a plurality of output channels.

ln accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the pulses which are to be distributed among a large number of output channels are rst distributed among a relatively small number of intermediate channels, and the pulses in each of the intermediate channels are each lengthened or extended in time, until just before a further pulse is expected in the intermediate channel under consideration. It follows that there will be pulses overlapping in time in the separate intermediate channels, which did not overlap in time in the input channel. Those pulses which overlap in time in separate intermediate channels may then be gated from the separate intermediate channels to different output channels by means of a single gating pulse, thus reducing the total number of gating pulses required by a factor of at least two.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention' is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 provides a block diagram of a system in accordance with the invention; and,

Figure 2 is a timing diagram employed in explaining the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral A denotes an input channel for pulses numbered l CC 1 to 12 in sequence, the pulses to be distributed among twelve output channels, and each sequence of twelve pulses being preceded by a synchronizing pulse S. It

will be realized that the principles of the invention may be extended to an extremely large number of output channels, as is required in some types of television systems,v

having a rotating contactor arm 22 and three stationary contacts 23, 24, 25, which are mutually insulated, and4 each of which extends substantially over one-third the path of travel of the rotating distributor arm 22. It fol-v' lows that the distributor arm 22 applies the pulses in sequence to the stationary contacts, the rst pulse to the segment 23, the second pulse to the segment 24, the third pulse to the segment 25, the fourth pulse again to the segment 23, etc. Every first, fourth, seventh and tenth pulse is applied then to the segment 23, every s econd, fth, eighth and eleventh pulse to the segment 24, and every third, sixth, ninth and twelfth pulse to the segment 25. Obviously, the mechanical distributor described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, may be replaced by an electronic distributor having no moving parts.

Output lines are connected to the distributor contacts 23, 24 and 25, which may be respectively identiiied by the reference numerals 26, 27 and 28, and which constitute the intermediate channels hereinabove referred to. These channels transmit the pulses impressed thereon to storage circuits, identified respectively by the reference numerals 29, 30 and 31. The storage circuits 29, 30 and 31 are of the nature of pulse lengtheners, which extend the duration of any pulse supplied thereto, until just before a further pulse is to be applied to the storage circuit from an intermediate channel. A further distributor switch 32 is provided, which is driven from the motor M, and which comprises a rotating switch arm 33 and three contacts 34, 35 and 36. When the rotating switch arm 33 is in contact with the stationary switch arm 34, a discharge signal is applied over the line 37 to the storage circuit 29, causing the same to discharge any signal which may be present thereon in preparation for a further signal applied thereto via the intermediate channel 26. The contacts 35 and 36 operate in like manner with respect to the storage circuits 30 and 31, respectively.

It follows that pulse l, when applied to storage circuit 29, remains therein, or is lengthened, until just before pulse 4 arrives at storage circuit 29. Just beforepulse 4 arrives at storage circuit 29 the contact 34 is contacted by switch arm 33, the storage circuit 29 is discharged, and is ready then for pulse 4 to arrive. When pulse 4 arrives it is stored or lengthened, remaining in storage until just before pulse 7 is due to arrive at storage circuit 29, when switch arm 33 contacts stationary contact 35, discharging storage circuit 29 in preparation for the arrival of pulse 7. The sequence of events in the various storage circuits 29, 30 and 31 is similar, so that there is provided at the output of the storagecircuits,

one-third the number of pulses which are available at the input channel A, the pulses being lengthened, however, so that they are almost, but not quite contiguous. i

Referring now more particularly to Figure 2" of the accompanying drawings, there is shown at line 1 Vthe twelve pulses arriving in the input channel A and numbered 1 to 12 successively. At line 2 is illustrated the Patented Oct. 16, 1956 storedrrr- V leitigtl'ieiiedA pulses available in the intermediate channel 26,` corresponding in amplitude to the pulses 1,

pulses appearing in intermediate lchannel 27, these pulses correspgriding `with original pulses Lpiesentcin theinputt channel, vand. numbered 2,'5 and; Y8.WSmilarly, line of Figure 2.,*is`illustrated` pulses as present,i ri`the,inte

mediate channel. 28,' and "coriesp ending@with inpiitchan-w nelpulses 3, 6 and 9.

mediate channel 26,'and pulse 2 as it appears in intermedn ate channel; 27, overlapvat apointintermediate .pulses .2 and-in the input channel, and that atnthis It willbe perceived4 that. pulse 1, as it appears..in;inter 10 moment no signal'isfpresentin intermediate channelZVS. "It follows; f

thati the intermedia/ techannels'lj and27 were sampled at the'tirne'B, intermediate the times of occiirren pulseszZwarnd 3.that-,this .sampling could be vrcomplished by mean ofV a. single samplingY piilse, which, could vbe' appliedfsiultaneously to transfer VVsignal .from inteil ,i mediate channel26 to an output channel VandV from interlfgo mediate 4cliannel27 to a ditferent'output channel. Similarly,at'time C, channels 26 and 22S could. be sampled;

at time D, channels 27 .and'28 could,A be sampled; Vat'ti'ries i E, channels 26 Hand 2'7 could be sampled; channels 26 and 28 could be sampled. A furtherY sampling .timecould be set just after pulse l2 or just before pulse 1,'this time being denominated Gin Figure 2.`

It follows that 12 output channels could be supplied and at times FF with output signals in response to cnly 6 control signals f i or sampling pulses, each of the control signals or. sampling pulsesbeing timed to divert signals'from .two intermediate I channels to two diterent output channels.

Returning now to Figure 1 of the accompanying draw-V ings, tlie output of storage circuit 29 is applied in parallel i to gatingcircuits l, 4, 7 and 10. The output of storage A circuit is applied in parallel to gating circuits 2, 5, 8 and v11. The output of storage circuit 31 is applied in parallelto gating circuits 3, 6, 9 and 12.. Thesegat'ing circuits bered.

llead .to output channels `corresponclingly ,nuinil The gating circuits 1 to 12, inclusive, are normally ol,

andniaybe turned on in response'to. gating pulses. The

latter may be generated by means of a gating pulse. generatoi'. 37, which is synchronized from the outputof the ss, .39, v310,141; p42". i

gate.ony gating circuits #l and #2; those supplied by line 3.9.v are applied to gate on vgatingV circuits '#3 andU .#4;`.t`l1'ose supplied to line 40 are appliedga/eiffonf;

gatingcircuits #.5 and #6, etc.

It'follows'tliat the output channels #l to #.12 inclusive,.,are.supplied with signal in response to six separately.Y

timedfgatingpulses insteadV of twelve, as has;beenftheAv casein Vthe prior art, these gating pulses occurring timedfsuccession, as at timesB, C, D', E, EG, eachin a` separate one ofthelines 38 't .l 43, inclusive. f

Theprinciple ofthe invention may clearly be extended..`

to a :system in which, say, ten' intermediate channelsare'.

employed, each of which feeds tengating cireuits,f,th`ere i b distrihutinsuccessivel occurrin ulsesfamonvfone Y c: Y i

hundred independent Voutput channels, y and in sucheaseg theduration kof each'pulse in each intermediatechanne would be extended to betweenten and ,elevenftimesli duratioiifof Yeachpulse in theV input channel,.and one gating`"pulse would thenV be adequate to eictftransfe of tfen'sigrials simultaneously to ten of 'the'ou'tput chan nels., Thereby is obtained'fa` reduction intlietot l berof gating pulses required by a acto'rlof Yten i' The principle maybe lfurther extendedto.multiplyicasu Cadedsysteins, in YWhich tliesignals .inech inte r chageiafeidtviad jamais ipi'raiity at 'further mediate channels, and the signals derived from each Vof the latter again distributed among a plurality of final or outputcli'aiine'l'slW w 'i While I have described anddillustrated specific forms cf the invention it will be clear that variations thereof may be resorted to without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in theappcnded claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a system Vfor distributing input pulses, which occur successivelyr in a single input channel, among a plurality of output circuits, means for extending said.. pulses in duration sutiiciently to provide time overlapping pulses, meanspsricdica11ysampling.. the time. overlapping portions of `said extended pulses, andV gate means resp0n.

sive to said sampling means for distributing said time overlapping pulses simultaneously among said output circuits, said sampling means being operative during restricted time intervals intermediate the occurrence of preselected' adjacent pulses of the saidAv successiveinput 2. in a system .for distributing input pulses, which.. occur successively in 4asin'gleY inp'iitE cir'euit, among ai" A pluralityof output circuits, means for extending the pulse width of'said pulses', in duration sulticiently to provide i, time overlapping pulses, and gatingmeans forV sampling the time overlapping portions of saidtime cviverlappirigv pulses simultaneously at restricted time intervals intcrmediate ,the occurrence ot preselected adjaeentnpulsesot' said successive input pulses.

3. In system for distributing periodic pulses,..vvhich:Y occur successively in a' sinale input channel, amonga plurality .of output circuits, means for distributing y'saidY pulses on a time sharingoasis among a plurality of inter-V .i mediate channels with the pulses in each lintermediate channel occurring periodically, meansv for estendingthe durations' of the pulses in each intermediate channel to Y' provide time overlaplof pulses among a plurality ofsaid intermediate channels at any one time, and means oper-Vy ative at restricted'time intervals intermcdia'te'tlie occur?` renceY of preselected Vsuccessive Yones 4of said i periodic." pulses for distributing time Voverlapping portionsof VtimeV i overlapping pulses 'm said plurality of'said intermediate channels simultaneouslyV to selected ones of said' output circuits..

4. In a system for distributing successive input pulses from a single Ainput channel to a plurality ot independentv output channels, means toi-.lengthening each. of vsaid pulses to. provide lengthened pulses, at least a pluralityv of said length'ened'pulses having portions thereof which occur sirriultaneousl; at time intervals intermediate said successive input pulses, and means operative at restrictedV time intervals intermediate the occurrence of preselected successive input pulses for simultaneously..distributing among selected ones of said independent output channels signals correspondingwithV said portions of said lengthened pulses which occur simultaneously.

5'. In a systernfor distributing pulses,..a sourceof successiveV input pulses occurring in non-ovcrlappingrelation,.,.means for'. lengthening said successive input pulses.

so that theyoverlap,aplurality of output channels,'gating I meansforgatingV separateones of the lengthened pulses into v.different..ones of said,output channels, saidfgating' meansbemgresponsiveto control pulses .occurringinterf mediate. to and..in Vnon-overlapping relation.with.pre.

selected ones of said. sucessiveiinput pulsesforgating portionsv of said, lengthenedpulses, and. n ieansjt'or,apply.- ing a single controlA pulsesimultaneously..to said gating means during..overlaptime,of said lengthenedv pulses intermediate, .the tirnesofy occurrencecf said,successi\ 'el input pulses..

6. In a system for distributing. successive input.signals,dA`

from an inputchannel to a relatively. large numbeif'of output channels, a` relatively small number of intermeds-fs- .tsmasls s-fst-isffibut0r`for- @attitude-.

signals from said input channel on a time sharing basis to said relatively small number of intermediate channels, a plurality of further distributors each for distributing signals from one of said intermediate channels to a plurality of output channels of said relatively large number of output channels, means for lengthening the signals in each of said intermediate channels suiciently that at least two lengthened signals occupying diierent ones of said intermediate channels overlap in time, a gating circuit in each of said output channels normally preventing transfer of signals and responsive to a control pulse for enabling transfer of signals, means for producing said control pulses at restricted time intervals occurring intermediate preselected ones of said successive input signals, and means for applying each of said control pulses to said dilerent ones of said intermediate channels.

7. In a system for distributing successive input pulses from an input channel to a large number of output channels, means for distributing pulses from said input channel into a plurality of intermediate channels on a time sharing basis, means for lengthening the pulses in each of said intermediate channels suiciently to provide time overlapping of pulses in separate ones of said intermediate channels, means responsive to control pulses for transferring signals from said intermediate channels to said output channels on a time sharing basis, and means for applying simultaneous control pulses selectively to ysaid last means to simultaneously transfer time overlapping pulses to said output channels at restricted time intervals intermediate the occurrence of preselected adjacent pulses of the said successive input pulses.

8. The system of claim 2 in which said mean-s for extending said pulses comprises a plurality of storage circuits, and a plurality of gating circuits coupled to the output of each of said storage circuits, said means for sampling comprising a generator of control pulses coupled to said gating circuits.

9. The system of claim 8 in which said `generator of control pulses has a plurality of time distributed pulse outputs, each of said pulse outputs being fed to different predetermined groups of said gating circuits.

10. The system of claim 9 in which the pulses to be distributed are fed to an input of said system in a serial train of pulses, and a distributor coupled to said input and cyclically feeding individual pulses of said serial train of pulses to different ones of said storage circuits.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,111 Levy Feb. 22, 1949 2,516,888 Levy Aug. 1, 1950 2,530,957 Gilman Nov. 21, 1950 2,554,112 Libois May 22, 1951 2,678,997 Darlington May 18, 1954 

